Ecstasy is the common street name for the stimulant methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA). The term ecstasy refers to a range of similar drugs to amphetamines that produce feelings of energy and empathy. Ecstasy can induce hallucinations.
Ecstasy is the street name for the stimulant drug MDMA, or methylenedioxymethamphetamine. The term ‘ecstasy’ usually refers to MDMA sold in tablet form, however these tablets are often adulterated or ‘cut’ with other substances like BZP or caffeine. Some ecstasy tablets contain no MDMA at all. As with all illegal drugs, there is no control over the purity, amount, or type of ingredients in ecstasy.
Ecstasy is most commonly taken orally, however a powdered form, known as ‘Pure MDMA’, can be snorted. Ecstasy tablets are usually about the size of common headache pills, they come in a variety of colours, and often have symbols on them by which different ‘batches’ are recognised.
MDMA is similar in effect to amphetamines and at higher doses, hallucinogens. MDMA stimulates the serotonin and dopamine centres in the brain. Its effects include feelings of empathy, euphoria, and closeness/openness to others. It increases energy and heightens physical feelings.
Side-effects usually associated with higher doses include convulsions, vomiting, floating sensations, irrational or bizarre behaviour, hallucinations and prolonged ‘come down’.
Slang
E, Pills, Eccy, X, XTC, The love drug, Lollies, Bikkies, Disco Biscuits.
Short-term effects
The effects of MDMA usually start about 20-60 minutes after taking it and are often felt as a sudden ‘come-up’ or ‘rush’ which can last up to half an hour and include:
After this initial ‘rush’ the user usually experiences a plateau in effects lasting around six hours before the beginning of the ‘come-down’. The ‘come-down’ from ecstasy use is characterised by:
‘Come-down’ effects can last up to several days.
Ecstasy increases the desire to be physically active which carries with it the risk of overheating, exhaustion, seizures and collapse, especially when in the hot and crowded environments like dance parties and nightclubs. People with a history of heart disease, hypertension, epilepsy, liver problems or diabetes are at greater risk of harm from ecstasy use.
Water consumption should be monitored when using ecstasy. Not enough water and too much physical activity can cause dehydration and overheating or hyperthermia. Too much water can lead to a condition called dilutional hyponatremia where the brain swells, inducing coma and sometimes death. See the reducing the harm section for guidelines on water consumption.
Higher doses do not appear to enhance the desirable effects of ecstasy, but do increase the risk of negative side-effects.
Long-term effects
There is limited evidence that ecstasy use causes damage to some parts of the brain, but it is unclear whether this damage is permanent. Long-term ecstasy use is uncommon, likely due to the increase in undesirable effects and diminishing of the pleasurable effects over time. However, regular ecstasy users may find they are not eating or sleeping enough and that they become run down and susceptible to cold, flu, and infections.
Dependence and addiction
There is no conclusive evidence that ecstasy is physically addictive. However, regular users can develop tolerance to the drug, meaning they must take more each time to feel the same effects. This increases the risk of overdose and negative side effects.
Regular users may become psychologically dependent on the drug, finding it difficult to cut down or stop using ecstasy when they go to dance parties or nightclubs, for example.
Overdose
An ecstasy overdose is characterised by very high body temperature and blood pressure, rapid heartbeat, hallucinations and convulsions. Death from ecstasy use is rare, but when the toxic effects of ecstasy are fatal it is usually due to heart attack, brain haemorrhage, blood clotting, kidney failure, overheating (hyperthermia), or drinking to much fluid (dilutional hyponatremia).
Overdose can also result when ecstasy pills contain unknown and unexpected substances in unknown or unexpected quantities. See the reducing the harm section to learn about lowering the risks from adulterated pills.
Ecstasy is illegal in New Zealand, scheduled as a Class B1 drug under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1975. The penalty for importing, manufacturing or supplying ecstasy is a maximum of 14 years imprisonment. Possession of ecstasy could incur three months jail and a fine up to $500.
Ecstasy use has become one of the most commonly used recreational drugs in New Zealand. Although it has been associated with nightclubs and electronic music, ecstasy is also used in homes and private parties.
A SHORE survey of frequent drug users in 2010 reported that:
According to the latest Drug Use in New Zealand Survey 2007/2008, published in 2009:
The Drug Foundation’s message is clear: no drug use is the safest drug use. However, we know there will be occasions when people ignore warnings and use drugs in a dangerous manner. To help keep communities safe we therefore provide information about proven methods of drug harm reduction.
Ecstasy users can use reagent tests to check the presence of MDMA or adulterants in their tablets. They analyse a small sliver of the tablet or powder and change colour to indicate the presence of MDMA or adulterants. Each test can only confirm the presence of one substance at a time however, and the presence of MDMA confirmed by a reagent test does not mean that other adulterants are not present. People using reagent tests should follow the instructions on the packaging carefully.
Users of ecstasy, especially those who partake in vigorous physical activity such as dancing, run a significant risk of both dehydrating or drinking too much water. It is recommended that people using ecstasy who are active drink about 500mls of water every hour, or 250mls if inactive. Alcohol dehydrates the body further.
Intense and prolonged dancing can cause considerable stress on the cardiovascular system and raise body temperature. It is recommended that people take regular breaks to calm the body down and reduce the need to drink too much water.
Ecstasy presents risks to both the body and the mind so users should stay with friends who can look after them if they begin to feel physically unwell or emotionally upset.
If you feel you or anyone you know needs help, there are a number of treatment organisations you can contact in strict confidence.
DrugHelp is a uniquely New Zealand website for people looking for help with their own or someone else’s drug use. DrugHelp shares the stories, experiences, insight and hope of people who have been there – people who have abused drugs and found a way through. www.drughelp.org.nz
The Alcohol Drug Helpline (0800 787 797) provides free and confidential support for any person concerned about their own or another person's alcohol or drug use. When you call you will talk to an experienced counsellor who is there to listen. You can trust the helpline to provide you with confidential and non-judgemental help when you need it.
The helpline is open from 10am–10pm, every day.
What to do in a crisis
If someone overdoses, becomes unwell, or has a bad reaction to ecstasy or any other drug, do not hesitate to get emergency medical assistance. A quick response could save their life:
A patent for MDMA was first filed in 1912 by German pharmaceutical company Merck. It was not ingested by humans for about another half century.
During the 1970s in the United States, pharmacologist Dr Alexander Shulgin rediscovered the MDMA compound and MDMA was promoted as a therapeutic product to give patients insight into their problems and reduce their psychological defences. Some psychiatrists called ecstasy ‘penicillin for the soul’ despite the fact it had not been clinically tested or approved for human use.
During the 1980s the use of ‘empathy’ and ‘ecstasy’ (street names that were then given to MDMA) began to increase, especially among gay and urban communities. By the 1990s ecstasy use was entrenched in the nightclub and electronic music scenes.
Ecstasy was banned in the United States in 1985 when the US Drug Enforcement Agency added it to schedule 1 of its list of controlled substances. It was deemed to have no medical use and a high potential for abuse. Other countries, including New Zealand, soon followed, and ecstasy or MDMA is illegal in most countries of the world.
A list of relevant links to further information and resources about ecstasy:
www.druginfo.adf.org.au/druginfo/drugs/drugfacts/ecstasy.html The Australian Drug Foundation’s Drug Info Clearinghouse ecstasy factsheet.
www.cads.org.nz/Sorted/ecstasy.asp Community Alcohol and Drugs Services ecstasy information page.
www.moh.govt.nz/moh.nsf/indexmh/drug-use-in-nz-key-results-of-the-0708-nzadus The Ministry of Health’s Drug Use in New Zealand: Key results of the 2007/08 New Zealand Alcohol and Drug Use Survey.
www.shore.ac.nz/projects/idms_study.htm SHORE Illicit Drug Monitoring System report.
www.ndp.govt.nz/moh.nsf/Files/ndp-advice-docs/$file/advice-to-eacd-mdma-july-2009.pdf Ministry of Health review and assessment report on Ecstasy 2009.
www.emcdda.europa.eu/publications/drug-profiles/mdma The European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction’s MDMA information page providing information about the chemistry and pharmacology of MDMA.
www.drughelp.org.nz uniquely New Zealand website that helps people who use drugs, and their loved ones, find solutions to the problems drug use has caused.